Can carrier



3,253,771 CAN CARRIER Jerome F. Olson, South St. Paul, and Gordon W. Frederickson, New Brighton, Minn., assignors to Waldorf Paper Products Company, St. Paul, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Filed Dec. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 333,899 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-40) This invention relates to an improvement in a can carrier and deals particularly with a carrier of the type which may be closed without the use of adhesive.

During recent years, most of the beverages, which are sold in cans, have been sold in carriers which contain a plurality of such cans. Many of these carriers .comprise sleeves having open ends and which depends upon the use of tabs of the type shown in the patent to Russell J. Hennessey #2,554,l90 issued May 22, 1951, for holding the cans in place. More recently, carriers of the wrap-around type such as that shown in Patent 2,963,148 to Raymond A. Cote issued December 6, 1960, have been produced. These carriers include flanges which fold inwardly in face contact between the two rows of cans and which terminate in reversely turned flanges which engage the chimes of the cans.

Many millions of carriers of this type have been successfully produced. However, the biggest difliculty which has been experienced with such carriers lies in the failure of the adhesive to properly adhere the flanges together. If the flanges remain properly adhered, the carriers are extremely effective as the flange structure prevents the wall from bowing away from the ends of the cans preventing any chance of disengagement of the cans. It is an object of the present invention to provide a can carrier which includes the advantageous features of the Cote patent without embodying the disadvantages thereof.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a carrier blank, the end portions of which terminate between the rows of cans. One end of the blank is provided with a first vertical flange and a reversely folded terminal. flange which engages the chimes of the cans in one row. Tongues are connected to the other end of the blank which include a-base portion which lies in face contact with the vertical flange at the other end of the blank and which include terminal portions which are reversely folded to engage the chimes of the other row of cans. As a result, the chimes of the cans of both rows are engaged to prevent the outward bowing of the carrier wall. At the same time, the tongues serve as locking tongues for holding the sleeve in closed position.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a horizontal sectional view through filled carrier showing the general arrangement of parts.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section through the carrier, the position of the section being indicated by the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the lower portion of the carrier in enlarged form.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carrier is formed.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the relationship of the locking tongues with the cans removed.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the ends of a modified form of blank. v

FIGURE 7 is an end elevational view in enlarged form showing the lower portion of the modified form of carrier and contents.

I United States Patent FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a detail portion of the blank showing the position of the locking tongues.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective detail showing the opposite side of the flange and tongue structure from that illustrated in FIGURE 6.

The carrier A is formed of the blank best illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. The blank includes a top panel 10 which is connected along parallel lines of fold 11 and 12'to side wall panels 13 and 14 respectively. The lower edges of the wall panels 13 and 14 are connected along fold lines 15 and 16 respectively to bottom panels 17 and 19. The bottom panel 17 and 19 are of a width substantially equal to one half the width of the top panel 10.

A narrow flange 20 is hingedly connected to the edge of the bottom panel 17 along a fold line 21, and a can retaining flange 22 is hingedly connected to the flange 20 along a parallel fold line 23. The can retaining flange 22 is somewhat narrower than the flange 20 so that the edge of this flange 22 which is indicated at 23 in FIG- URE 3 drawings will engage the chime 24 of a can B to hold the bottom 17 flat against the base of a can B of the opposite row of cans.

The free edge 25 of the bottom panel 19 is provided with a series of spaced locking tongues 26, which may be of approximately the same height as the flange 20, the locking tongues being connected by fold lines 27 to locking tongue extremities 29. The bottom panel 17 is provided with a plurality ofapertures 30 which are spaced similarly to the locking tongues 26 and which are positioned adjoining the fold line 2-1 to accommodate the locking tongues. The locking tongues 26 are reversely folded along their fold lines 27 to position the tongue ends 29 in face contact with portions of the tongues 26 and are somewhat shorter than the tongues 26 so as to engage the chime 24aof the can B of the second row.

As is indicated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings the tongues 26 are arranged to engage the cans near the cen ter thereof. If the blank is of suflicient width, the tongues are spaced apart a distance equal to the can diameter. When the blanks are made somewhat narrower as indicated in the drawings, the tongues are placed as near to the side edges of the blank as is practical to provide the apertures 30. In other words, they are positioned closely enough to the centers of the cans of each row to effectively engage the chimes.

When the tongues are in place as indicated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the tongues serve the double purpose of holding the bottom panels closely adjacent to the ends of the cans and also of locking the can band in can encircling position. It will be noted that when the locking tongues are in the position illustrated, the end edges 31 of the tongue extremities 29 hold the tongues from Ellis et al. and issued May 1, 1962. Finger openings 36 may also be provided through the top panel 10 the filled carrier may be lifted.

In FIGURES 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the drawings, a modified so that form of blank is shown and indicated in general by the 3 nected along a fold line 44 to a can retaining flange 45 which correspond to flange 22. As indicated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings, the free edge 46 of the can retaining flange 45 is designed to engage against the chimes 24 of the corresponding cans of one row.

The bottom panel 41 is hingedly connected along its free edge 47 to a flange 49 which is generally similar in size to the flange 43. A series of spaced apertures 50 are provided in the bottom panel 41 adjoining the fold line 47, the spacing of these apertures generally corresponding to the spacing of the centers of the cans of the two rows. Tabs 51 are defined by U-shaped cut lines 52 in the bottom panel 40, the ends of the U-shaped cut lines terminating substantially at the fold line 42. The bodies of the tongues 51 are connected alongfold lines 53 to can retaining tongue extremities 54.

As indicated in FIGURES 7, 8, and 9 of the drawings, the tongues 51 are foldably connected along the fold lines 53 so that the can retaining extremities 54- may be reversely folded to lie in face contact with the body portions of the tongues 51. The can retaining flange 45 is also reversely folded into face contact with the connected flange 43. When the tongues 51 are inserted through the slots 50, the lower edges 55 extend in contact with the chimes 24a of the second row of cans B. Here again,

the tongues serve the double purpose of holding the carrier wrapped about the rows of cans also retaining the ends of the cans against the bottom panels.

In accordance with the patent statutes, an attempt has been made to describe the best embodiments of the invention. However it is desired to point out that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A can carrier for enclosing two side by side parallel rows of cans each having at least one chimed end, the

' carrier including an elongated blank transversely creased along parallel fold lines to include, in series, a first bottom panel, a first side wall panel, a top panel, a second side wall panel, and a second bottom panel,

the top panel being of a width to extend across the ends of both rows of cans and the said bottom panels being of a width to extend across the chimed ends of one of said rows of cans,

a flange hinged to the edge of said first bottom panel opposite the edge hinged to said first side wall,

said first bottom panel having at least two apertures therethrough adjoining said flange and located in the areas between the end cans of the side by side rows of cans,

said second bottom panel having locking tongues connected in opposed relation to said apertures and adapted to extend therethrough to lie between the end cans of said rows, and

said locking tongues including reversely folded locking tongue extremities engageable against the chimes of the cans of one of said rows to hold saidone row of cans against the bottom panel which it overlies.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including a can retaining flange hinged to the edge of said first named flange and reversely folded to engage the chimes of the cans of the other of said rows.

3. The structure of claim 1 and including a second flange hingedly connected to the edge of said second bottom panel, opposite the edge thereof hinged to said, 1 second side wall panel, and

a can retaining flange hinged to the second flange along a fold line parallel to the previously described lines of fold and reversely folded to engage the chimes of the cans of the other of said rows. 4. A can carrier for enclosing two side by side parallel rows of cans each having at least one chimed end, the carrier including 4 an elongated blank transversely creased along parallel fold lines to include, in series, a first bottom panel, a first side wall panel, a-top panel, a second side wall panel, and a second bottom panel, of the top panel being of a width to extend across the ends of both rods of cans and the said bottom panels being of a width to extend across the chimed ends of one of said rows of cans, a flange hinged to the edge of said first bottom panel opposite the edge hinged to said first side wall,

said first bottom panel having apertures therethrough spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the cans and located in areas between the opposed cans of said rows,

locking tongues hingedly connected to the said second bottom panel spaced similarly to said apertures and adapted to extend through said apertures to lie in face contact with said flange, and,

reversely folded locking tongue extremities on said locking tongues adapted to engage the chimes of the cans of one of said rows.

5. The structure of claim 4 and including a can retaining flange on said first named flange and connected thereto along a line of fold parallel to said previously described fold lines and reversely folded to overlie the surface of said first named flange opposite that engaged by said locking tongues and engageable against the chimes of the cans of the other of the rows.

6. A can carrier for enclosing two side by side parallel rows of cans each having at least one chimed end, the carrier including an elongated blank transversely creased along parallel fold lines to include, in series, a first bottom panel, a first side wall panel, a top panel, a second side wall panel, and a second bottom panel,

the top panel being of a width to extend across the ends of both rows of cans and the said bottom panels being of a width to extend across the chimed ends of one of said rows of cans,

a flange hinged to the edge of said first bottom panel opposite the edge hinged to said first side wall, said first bottom panel having aperture edge therethrough spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the cans and located in areas between the opposed cans of said rows, said second bottom panel having a second flange hinged to the edge thereof opposite'the edge hinged to said second side wall and adapted to line in face contact with said first flange between the rows of cans, locking tongues hingedly connected to said second bottom panel through said second flange and spaced similarly to said apertures said tongues being adapted to extend through said apertures to lie in face contact with said first flange, reversely folded locking tab extremities on said locking tongues engageable with the chimes of the cans overlying said first bottom panel, and

a can retaining flange hinged to said second flange along a line of fold parallel to said previously mentioned fold lines and adapted to be reversely folded into engagement with the chimes of the cans overlying said second bottom panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,926,782 3/1960 Andre 22940 3,006,530 8/1961 Forrer 22940 3,010,573 11/1961 Chidsey 22940 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

J. F. MCNULTY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CAN CARRIER FOR ENCLOSING TWO SIDE BY SIDE PARALLEL ROWS OF CANS EACH HAVING AT LEAST ONE CHIMED END, THE CARRIER INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BLANK TRANSVERSELY CREASED ALONG PARALLEL FOLD LINES TO INCLUDE, IN SERIES, A FIRST BOTTOM PANEL, A FIRST SIDE WALL PANEL, A TOP PANEL, A SECOND SIDE WALL PANEL, AND A SECOND BOTTOM PANEL, THE TOP PANEL BEING OF A WIDTH TO EXTEND ACROSS THE ENDS OF BOTH ROWS OF CANS AND THE SAID BOTTOM PANELS BEING OF A WIDTH TO EXTEND ACROSS THE CHIMED ENDS OF ONE OF SAID ROWS OF CANS, A FLANGE HINGED TO THE EDGE OF SAID FIRST BOTTOM PANEL OPPOSITE THE EDGE HINGED TO SAID FIRST SIDE WALL, SAID FIRST BOTTOM PANEL HAVING AT LEAST TWO APERTURES THERETHROUGH ADJOINING SAID FLANGE AND LOCATED IN THE AREAS BETWEEN THE END CANS OF THE SIDE BY SIDE ROWS OF CANS, SAID SECOND BOTTOM PANEL HAVING LOCKING TONGUES CONNECTED IN OPPOSED RELATION TO SAID APERTURES AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND THERETHROUGH TO LIE BETWEEN THE END CANS OF SAID ROWS, AND SAID LOCKING TONGUES INCLUDING REVERSELY FOLDED LOCKING TONGUE EXTREMITIES ENGAGEABLE AGAINST THE CHIMES OF THE CANS OF ONE OF SAID ROWS TO HOLD SAID ONE ROW OF CANS AGAINST THE BOTTOM PANEL WHICH IT OVERLIES. 